Hard Decisions Deny 3rds in Cup Final

A cup final - the perfect way to finish a great season for the 3rds against a good Biggleswade 3rd side who had shown good results in the league this season. Both teams played hard and fair with a single penalty separating the teams at the end giving Biggleswade's the cup; we congratulate them on their win in a very tight cup final.

Over the 80 minutes there was very little to separate the teams. Datchworth scored first with a converted penalty from Frankie after typical hard forward play Datch had shown from the first kick-off last September. Datch looked to have extended their advantage with Scouse Steve picking up an amazing piece of handling by Geoff Clapp but it was to be denied as the two of the three match officials failed to see the grounding. At the end of first half Datch led 3:0.

And the second half continued like the first this time with good work from Biggleswade to force penalties from Datch levelling the score at 3 all. Like the first half Datch looked to have a very good claim for a grounded try from Steve but again the officially failed to confirm the grounding this one in front of the surprised supporters. Over the half decisions didn't go Datch's way with a player binned for consist high tackling and one sent off for a punch at the bottom of a ruck due to a kick in the private gentleman's area. Biggleswade continued to play running rugby with great defence from Datch down to 13 at one point with the Colts showing how far they had come from the season start. One penalty was enough to separate the teams after 80mins with a lesson that scoring only counts if the ref gives it.

The final game of the season way not have been the best but special mentions to now Manager Steve Corely (after breaking his ankle playing this season) and Andrew 'Woody' Wood who both hang up their boots in competitive rugby after many, many years of play for Datchworth. All the Colts that played and their coaches that have seen them come from mini/junior rugby up to the men's game (Neil Aker, Graham 'Smudger' Smith, Adrian Finn to name but three) and the old and new senior seniors for some their first season.

A denied trophy this season but the 3rds leave with real promise for 2016 season with the young guns and the old boys playing and celebrating together in the 'One Club' ethos of the Greens.